Memories of Akbar Hashemi - January 12, 2001 - New Remarks by Ayatollah Montazeri and His Stance on the Performance of Velayat-e Faqih

Passing of Sheikh Mahdi Shams al-Din

New Remarks by Ayatollah Montazeri and His Stance on the Performance of Velayat-e Faqih

Full Text of the Daily Notes:

Due to lung cancer, Sheikh Mahdi Shams al-Din, the head of the Supreme Council of Shia in Lebanon, worsened yesterday, and today it was announced that he has passed away. I signed a condolence statement, and it was announced that I worked at the Koshk from 10 AM to 4 PM. In the evening, I continued working at home, reading bulletins and studying Islamic history.

Ayatollah Montazeri, in response to several political questions, once again criticized the performance of Velayat-e Faqih, and it seems that the arrest of Mr. Saeed Montazeri and the exile order for Sheikh Abbas Maleki from Najafabad were not without impact. In the evening, Iffat went to offer condolences to the family of Mashhadi Rajab, who passed away today.

In American media, it has been reported that former President Jimmy Carter stated, "If I had a few more months, I would have overthrown the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979." Yasser Arafat, the head of the Palestinian Authority, claimed that Israel uses ammunition containing depleted uranium. The issue of "Balkan Syndrome" has become a current concern in Europe. Americans argue that using depleted uranium in munitions is to increase their weight and has minimal effects in terms of nuclear radiation; however, the spread of diseases associated with it is now evident in Europe, America, Iraq, and Kuwait. The Balkans and Palestine have recently entered this discussion, raising serious concerns among NATO soldiers, with American troops also expressing worries.